Here we are again, it’s the holiday season. It seems to come up faster and faster the older I get.    As I continue to see clients and get busier and busier, the common theme during the holidays is to work towards a goal of weight maintenance or continued weight loss through the holidays. This can certainly be a difficult thing to do as the holiday season is themed around all different types of food events.   Ask anyone what they think of when they hear Thanksgiving and I guarantee the majority say turkey with all the fixings. Since our society puts a lot of focus on food and how it makes us feel, it’s no wonder that some can become quite anxious this week.   I’m choosing to forego any big research topics this week to provide some tips on how to make this holiday healthy.   1)         Focus on the true meaning of the holiday and not the food it’s centered around.   Celebrate the relationships you are thankful for and make ...

A recent study completed by the University of Montreal and published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine suggests that it may be possible to predict obesity as early as 3.5 years of age.   Laura Pryor, a PhD candidate, and her team analyzed data drawn from the Quebec Longitudinal study of child development which ran from 1998 to 2006.   1,957 children’s height and weights were analyzed from 5 months to 8 years of age.   In addition to weight and height, BMI’s (body mass index) were configured and analyzed and differentiated into three trajectory groups: children with low but stable BMI, children with moderate BMI, and high- rising BMI (elevated BMI that was rising). An interesting summary from this study was that the research team noticed that all three trajectory groups were similar until about 2.5 years of age.   The BMI’s of the high-rising trajectory group increased significantly at 2.5 years of age and by middle school 50% of these children w...

As we enter into the month of November and gear up for the holidays, Angela Farris helps familiarize us with the many types of squash as well as giving us tips on how to prepare.  Enjoy! Squash is not only colorful, it’s tasty! Winter squash varietals come in various shapes and sizes but share similar characteristics. Winter squash tends to have a hard outer shell that encloses a vibrant flesh that can boast many vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, C & E, beta-carotene, magnesium, manganese and potassium. A quick, easy way to prepare your squash is to oven bake it. Preheat your oven to 350°. Scrub the outside of your squash thoroughly, cut in half length wise ( Beware! squash can be difficult to cut due to its size and firmness. Take extra precautions and find a firm grip before slicing ), remove the seeds and place face down in a roasting pan. Add half an inch of water in the bottom of the pan to provide moisture. Depending on size, bake between 1 – 2 hrs...